Derrico

I will say he's damn good when he's on and he's a great fit to play with Jack. However, I wonder, based on his size, how he performs when the going gets tough. He went on that big scoring drought late in the season when teams tightened up and frankly the Sabres needed him most. He's not a perfect player. He's very nice but I don't want to overpay for very nice to be honest. I wish I knew how good he would be in the playoffs but he has never made it. I donno. Again, I really like him but there are a couple of red flags and I'm just not willing to overpay for him.

Man it's alot. It better come with no NTC/NMC. Even then the last 2-3 years scare me. I'm more confident he won't fall off a cliff year 2 like Okposo but I'm also not confident in what he's giving me the last couple.

All of this just screams to me that Botts had the choice between Tippet and Kreuger and HE CHOSE Kreuger. That's all I could ask for is Botts got one of his top choices. It's on him now.

Completely agree with this. Thats why 8 x 8 makes sense to me. You get to that 64.

Oh for sure. That's why I don't think there's any way I love the look of this deal having it 8 years. If there's a good shot he's not worth it as a $7 mil player the last 4 years of the deal (which I agree with) then he will quickly turn into an Okposo contract for 3 or 4 years. If he's not worth $7 and we're paying him a cap hit of $8.5 or $9 then that's where teams can get into big trouble (as we've all seen here). Then so be it. I wouldn't go over 8 if you're talking 8 years. Should add that I'm fully aware 8 x 8 won't get it done but to me it's fair. I think it's a decent team price for the next couple of years, fair for both through the middle and there's a bit of a decline relative to cap hit later in the deal. Use some Pegula bucks to front load and pay in bonuses or whatever maximizes Skinners return.

I would even go 4 years at $10 per. Much rather that than 8 x 8.5.

Man 8 years is tough to stomach. Let's hope he stays healthy and keeps his legs into his 30's.

I’d love to see their second round rate. Who is the last second round Sabre who has made much of a contribution? Considering the past quantity and quality (top 10) second round picks it has absolutely killed this franchise. McCabe 7 years ago? I guess there’s some hope for the new guys (mainly the goalie) but wow there’s been very little in the second round over the past decade.

It means nylander is a bust lol

For sure. Still not taking on that contract for Raddysh.

Ya that is a sweetlou trade proposal for sure. No way that’s a big enough prospect to take on the contract.

Oh God let's hope. I love Mitts as a prospect and what he will become. But there's no way I see us making the playoffs next year if we don't have a legit top 6 second line centre on opening night.

Yep. I don’t see it much different from any professional organization to be honest. I go to conferences and interact with others in my field for several years now. We all work for different firms but still provide advice and recommendations to each other from time to time. I would imagine it’s like that in most industries.

This exact thought crossed my mind. But is Hitch really going to come out of retirement yet again for an assistant job? Doubt it.

I would still rather not overpay for skinner. If the numbers work fine but I don’t want this to be an 8 year deal. Give me that money and sign Zuc and Hayes (ok that will combine for more). My point is don’t put us in perpetual cap jail

Just stopping in to say I LOVED the Dahlin Montour pairing near the end of last year. Two crazy high-end mobile D who can make the long pass? Ya I'll happily play them 24 min a night and get Risto/McCabe playing 20.

Maybe. Could be a mutual split.

I love looking back on the timeline. This was in the works for weeks while fan base is freaking out that everyone is turning us down and botts has no idea what he’s doing.

Better now than in October I guess.

What I like about this hiring the most is this was one of botts top choices so it sounds. Based on news reports/timelines etc. It sounds like botts may have had McClellan first on his list but even so, Krueger was an immmidiate second. Botts sounds almost giddy. If anything, I think this is 100 percent Jasons choice. I’m confident there was no major influence from the Pegulas and this hire is on him, good or bad.

Nice to see ya come around ?

Maybe he can make nylander a serviceable player?

God let’s hope

If this is what happens then I'm totally ok with that.

I think I would of rather tippet. Who knows though. Told myself at the beginning I’m not going to get worked up on who it is until I see results one way or another. Today is a day for optimism.